Thursday, March 17, 2011

Getting a good night's sleep is about getting our beauty rest. We've heard it called that but it really is just that...beauty rest. Our bodies need at least 7-8 hours of rest each night to rejuvinate and rebuild our immune systems, etc. A good night's sleep helps us deal with stress, inflammation caused by environmental toxins and whatever else comes our way on a daily basis.

As we get "older" and sleepless nights are more frequent and more annoying (I'm speaking from personal experience). Now for sleep the room temperature needs to be just right, the pillow fluffed correctly, no exterior sounds or lights to annoy and bedtime must be around the same time each night. Finally, we lay our weary self down to rest after a long day...and we don't sleep, just toss and turn! What's up with that?

A full work week, errands to run, chores to tend to and going to the gym 3-4 times a week (and working out really HARD mind you) should be enough to get any woman's body to crash once her head hits the pillow!

Taking mom's advice. My mom ended up being my saving grace when it came to my lack of a good night's sleep.I don't like taking medications and so I suffered silently with frequent sleepless nights. Then one conversation about not sleeping came up. My mom suggested I take a natural supplement: Melatonin. Melatonin is a natural hormone your body produces. It also occurs in foods like turkey and it makes you feel naturally sleepy.Natural melatonin levels slowly drop with age...no kidding, LOL!

Who knew my beauty rest could be purchased at Target for only $5.99! Nature's Bounty 3 mg of Melatonin is my saving grace. I take one tablet about an hour before bed if I feel I might not sleep (this is about 2-3 times a week). The next morning you are refreshed and not groggy at all.

Thanks mom! You always know best.

What do you do to prevent sleepless nights? Have you tried melatonin or another natural supplement to aid sleep?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

When you say 'TGIF' are you not sure of what you can wear to work on Fridays?

Is there such thing as too casual—after all they did say casual…didn’t they? Can you pull off flip-flops or jeans on Casual Fridays? What if the flip-flops are "bejewelled"? Exactly what is office appropriate on laid-back days?

Here’s how to navigate Casual Fridays. First, consider the opportunity of style choices that a casual work environment allows. You have so many choices to be stylish as well as comfortable at the same time. Subsequently, find out what your office rules are on proper office attire. Be sure to follow the guidelines for your office at all times.

Khaki craze. There’s no doubt that khakis rank number one in classic casual attire! They are always dressier than jeans or other twill pants. Use your imagination and dress them up with a pretty colorful blouse or try a new menswear vest this season. Be creative here!

Show you have good genes. Only consider dark washed dressier jeans if you know jeans are an acceptable form of casual wear. Wear a dressier heel to make the jeans look stylish. Don’t go there without knowing first!

Minis and camis are no, no’s. Never, ever is a camisole, spaghetti straps, mini skirts or cleavage considered workplace friendly. Leave these garments hanging in the closet or consider them for weekend wear only!

NEVER wear this! EVER.

Dress similar to your superiors. If you want to be considered professional, dress like the “higher ups”. Dressing the part helps you climb the corporate ladder.

Neat and clean is always the way to go. Even if your work environment lets you wear jeans and flip-flops…make sure you are neat in clean in appearance. Always iron wrinkles out of clothes and look ready to work and represent your company and yourself in the best light.

Blazers can fix anything. Always have a blazer handy at the office. When you wear a blazer you automatically look more authoritative! Even when you wear a tee-shirt and jeans, a blazer makes any outfit look more polished!

A blazer means "dressed for success" even on Fridays...

Sloppy can equal lazy.Don’t look too comfortable on Casual Fridays or everyone will get the opinion that your weekend has already started! Everyone will “think” you are lazy.

The appearance that you give everyday at work is part of the perception of YOU! Put your best foot forward with style--even on "casual Fridays"!